ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE
EDINBURGH EDITION OF 1809,

FROM WHICH THE PRESENT IS REPRINTED.

WHETHER this interesting work is considered as a
romance, or as a series of authentic memoirs, in
which the only fabulous circumstance is the exist-
ence of the hero; it must undoubtedly be allowed
to be of the best description of either species of
composition, and to reflect additional lustre, even
on the author of Robinson Crusoe.

There is so much simplicity and apparent fidelity
of statement throughout the narrative, that the
feelings are little indebted to those who would re-
move the veil; arid the former editors, perhaps,
have acted not unwisely in leaving the circum-
stances of its authenticity in their original ob-
scurity. The Memoirs of a Cavalier, have long,
however, been ascertained to be the production of
DANIEL DK FOE. Both the first and second editions
were published without date; but, from other evi-
dence, the work appears to have been written
shortly after Robinson Crusoe, in 1720-1.